Sunday, December 31, 2017

Smoke bombs in parliament and clashes with police have erupted over how Albania’s new judicial laws have been carried out. With fears of a parliamentary boycott growing – Euronews explains what’s to come for the Balkan state as politicians grapple with the EU and US-backed reforms.

The Albanian parliament was filled with smoke on December 18 when the ruling Socialist Party voted to appoint an interim prosecutor general – a move that prompted opposition MPs to release smoke bombs as they claimed the process was unconstitutional.

Outside the Assembly building, protesters supporting the opposition and police clashed, but these protests, including the opposition inside Parliament, were not enough to strike down the 69 votes that confirmed prosecutor Arta Marku as the interim prosecutor general.

But the Socialist Party denied this – saying they had to make a temporary appointment after the previous general prosecutor’s five-year term ended in early December to, they claim, ensure the prosecution office remains functional.

Albania’s 2016 judicial reform has recently come into effect in a bid to build an independent judiciary, with 91 per cent of Albanians backing the measure. The country’s politicians and judges have been dogged by corruption allegations. These high-level people – known as “big fishes” – are expected to see criminal charges once the reforms are enforced.

The judicial reform foresees the establishment of two institutions: the Special Prosecution Office and the National Investigation Bureau, which will be directly in charge of high-level crime investigations and corruption.

The US Embassy in Tirana, which favours – and has even assisted – the bill’s passage, said the clashes in parliament signal that the reforms are being implemented and Albanians “should not be surprised”.

“The people of Albania should not be surprised that their politicians are fighting amongst themselves. This means the judicial reform is finally being implemented. The people of Albania are impatient for justice. And the politicians are afraid,” the embassy said in a statement.

The European Union also strongly backs the judicial reform, a move seen as a crucial stepping stone for Albania’s bid for EU accession.

Afrim Krasniqi, an independent political expert and the executive director of Albanian Political Studies Institute, says most politicians, not just the ruling party, are against the reform and that it’s mostly being promoted by the international community rather than Albanian politics.

“The last conflict was not directly related with the prosecutor but ‘de facto’ with the judicial reform. The confrontation shows how scared politicians are and that’s the only good news. There is a clear paradox, Albania is investing in the most important reform ever in justice while its leaders are against and ready to create obstacles,” Krasniqi told Euronews.

Krasniqi also said both the government and opposition are guilty of trying to block the reform, adding that it may lead to a parliamentary boycott.

“The government hasn’t yet fulfilled its duties in implementing the reform laws. On the other hand, the opposition is using an excuse to stop the implementation. The problem is whether this crisis will lead to a parliamentary boycott – [meaning] some of the vetting bodies yet elected would be appointed by the majority alone, which could compromise the credibility of the reform.”

Jordan Daci, a local independent justice expert, says the judicial reform is needed for Albania and its democracy.

“The reform has entered into a very crucial stage and the first results are expected to be seen by the first quarter of 2018. Such reform is crucial for the rule of law and further consolidation and strengthening of the democracy in Albania,” he told Euronews.

He added that although the political class has never truly supported the reform, it’s still largely welcomed by Albanians – many of whom want a fully independent and responsible judiciary.

Fatjona Mejdini, an experienced journalist based in Tirana, says politicians are feeling the pressure as they are no longer in a “safe zone”.

“The reform is thorough and has already started to give the first results, making corrupted politicians feel that they are not going to be safe anymore. The anxiety of a possible confrontation in the near future with the new justice bodies creates an inflammatory political rhetoric,” she told Euronews.

When it comes to civil society, Mirela Arqimandriti, director of the Gender Alliance for Development Center, says the public fears that there may be more clashes and confrontation to come.

“Albania needs this reform more than ever but it is progressing slowly. There is also a fear from the people that it may bring further clashes,” she said. “I hope that after the reform implementation, justice will be separated from politics and business.”

Eldolina Këputa, a 22-year-old student at the University of Tirana, is optimistic for the future after the implementation of the reform.

“The last clashes show how corrupt our parliament and justice [system] are. For my entire generation, the judicial reform is the hope that Albania will make it so that we can build our future here, fearless from the insecurity tomorrow could bring.”

The U.S. is urging Kosovo leaders to leave unchanged a war crimes court established to hear serious cases arising from the country’s war for independence.

“The United States is deeply concerned by recent attempts of Kosovo lawmakers to abrogate the law on the Specialist Chambers,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement Friday. “We call on political leaders in the Republic of Kosovo to maintain their commitment to the work of the Chambers and to leave the authorities and jurisdiction of the court unchanged.”

The U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on December 21 that “the pursuit of justice in the Balkans is not over,” and the U.S. “remains committed to supporting justice for the victims,” the statement said.

The Kosovo political leaders enacted the law and constitutional amendment in 2015 to establish the Specialist Chambers, a court that would hear cases of alleged crimes against humanity, war crimes, and other serious crimes committed during the 1998-2000 conflict in the former Yugoslavia.

Last week, however, lawmakers from the governing coalition, who hold a majority, pressed for a vote to abolish the court, but they failed twice because of opposition from other parties.

The U.S. and other Western countries swiftly condemned the move, warning that if successful, it would hamper efforts for Euro-Atlantic integration.

The U.S. has been a key ally and financial backer of Kosovo since it broke away from Serbia and declared independence in 2008.

A man offers for sale a wounded common buzzard in a national road near the village of Thumane in Albania. | Photo Credit: AFP

The golden eagle and many other raptors are being killed and stuffed for display in restaurants and hotels

It is Albania’s national symbol, but the eagle may soon only be found on the flag. The majestic bird is threatened with extinction due to widespread poaching of raptors.

On the side of a national motorway, just 30 km north of the capital Tirana, a vendor offers motorists a common buzzard for an average price of 7,000-10,000 leks (₹4200 - ₹6,500) .

The buzzard is a protected species just like the golden eagle.

But the man isn’t concerned as he exhibits the bird with its wing wounded by a bullet and its talons tied.

“I didn’t wound it. I was given it to sell. The buyers will keep it in a cage in a bar or a restaurant,” he says.

Whether the customers want to stuff them or to keep them in captivity, they can find these birds for sale on the street.

Of the four species of vultures that used to exist in Albania, “only one, the Egyptian vulture, remains and its population has been extremely reduced,” says Mirjan Topi, author of Albania’s first bird guide.

So too the dwindling number of golden eagles, a two-headed specimen of which features on the flag of this mountainous Balkan country.

According to experts, some 25 years ago there were between 100 and 200 couples of golden eagles. That number today has been cut in half, “a dramatic decline”, says Mr. Topi.

For biologist Taulant Bino, president of the Albanian Ornithological Society, the golden eagle “is on the road to extinction”.

“Fifty years ago or even in the early 1990s, we could see it on every summit,” he says.

On a global scale, the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is not classified as a threatened species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

But in Albania nowadays the place where you are most likely to see a golden eagle is “stuffed in bars, restaurants or hotels”, Mr. Topi says.

Sickening spectacle

The idea is “to decorate the interior to attract customers, at the price of a sickening spectacle, in violation of the law, and in defiance of the state and institutions”, the bird specialist laments.

In the southern region of Orikum, a man in his 50s, who would only identify himself as Petrit, is proud of the eagle he bought for ₹30,000. He displays it in his bar next to the national flag and other stuffed birds.

“It is more and more rare to find an eagle,” he notes.

The state has threatened to close his bar if he continues to show off his trophy but Mr. Petrit is not worried.

“I am ready to pay a fine, but I want to keep it.”

And in the mountains of Prenish along the border with Macedonia, a hunter who gave his name as Edmond appeared unfazed to be found with two buzzards he had just killed.

The 35-year-old explained that he plans to use the birds as decoration in his bar “to get more customers”.

There has been a hunting ban in Albania since 2014. Authorities say it has curtailed a large number of the 2,000-3,000 Italian hunters who are estimated to have killed more than 150,000 birds, including hundreds of raptors over the last decade.

According to Ermal Halimi, a specialist on the issue at the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, there are plans to toughen the law, including “prison terms for all offences that contribute to the disappearance of protected animals”.

Another threat, perhaps even more insidious, hangs over the raptors: the poisoned carcasses that shepherds leave in the field to protect their flocks from wolves.

“A single carcass is enough to kill several vultures if they find it before the wolf,” says Nexhip Hysolokaj, an environmental expert in the Orikum region where in March, six eagles and vultures were found dead from poison.

Fines have never been issued over this practice which shepherds seem to have no intention of giving up.

Tony Blair's think tank Institute for Global Change notes an increase in support for populist parties Getty
Europe has seen a surge in support for "populist" political parties which threatens to destabilise democracy across the continent, a report by Tony Blair's think tank has warned.

The survey by the former prime minister's Institute for Global Change found the share of the vote taken by populist parties from both right and left has almost trebled since 2000 - rising from 8.5% to 24.1%.

Over the same period, it said the number of European countries with populist parties participating in government has doubled from seven to 14 - creating an unprecedented "populist belt" from the Baltic to the Aegean.
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It warned that the trend looked set to continue unless mainstream political parties were able to find a way to counter the populists' appeal.

The report defines as populist those parties and politicians which "claim to represent the true will of a unified people against domestic elites, foreign migrants, or ethnic, religious or sexual minorities".

It said they are often characterised by "inflammatory" attacks on independent institutions such as the media or the judiciary and support for highly restrictive immigration controls and protectionist economic policies.

They are strongest in Eastern Europe, currently holding power in seven countries - Bosnia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Serbia and Slovakia - while populist parties are the junior coalition partners in two others and the main opposition in three more.

"Parties like Poland's Law and Justice party and Hungary's Fidesz tend to emphasise a nationalism based on soil, blood or culture; take a hard line against immigration; and have, especially in Poland and Hungary, quickly started to dismantle key democratic institutions like the free media and an independent judiciary," the report said.

"Working largely within the letter of the law, and drawing on widespread popular support, they have destroyed many of the institutions that are needed to safeguard democratic institutions over the long-run."

In contrast to Eastern Europe, where most populist parties are on the right, those in Southern Europe are predominantly on the left, such as Syriza in Greece and Podemos in Spain.

However, the report said left-wing parties from other parts of the continent - including Labour in Britain - had embraced elements of populism, underlining the impact populist politics was having on the mainstream.

The report's co-author, Yascha Mounk, said: "2016 was the year that populism went prime time, but as our data makes clear: this rise started well before 2016.

"The huge transformation we are seeing in European politics is long term, driven by issues such as economic insecurity; a rebellion against immigration and the notion of a multi-ethnic society; and the ease with which extreme voices can make themselves heard in an age of social media.

"This populist wave has not crested and unless politicians managed to identify and counteract the structural drivers, populism will keep garnering strength in the years to come."

Two other MPs are caught by the net of the decriminalization law. The General Prosecution has demanded the lifting of the mandate for MPs Aqif Rakipi of PDIU and Gledjon Rehovica of SMI. Although a decision has not yet been taken, it can be said that it’s almost certain that they will be removed from Parliament, because media and the respective parties are thinking about the people who will replace them. The meeting of the Central Election Commission to discuss these two cases will take place on 3 January and along with the MPs mentioned above, the Commission will also decide on the fate of the former MPs Mhill Fufi and Omer Mamo and also the mayor of Pogradec, Eduart Kapri. Everyone will be judged based on the law on decriminalization, as they have not declared in their public self-assessment forms that they been convicted abroad or in the country.

Adding the long list of MPs or mayors whose mandates have been lifted in previous legislative periods and the large number of MPs who have resigned while exerting their term in office, it must be said that the law on decriminalization has stirred the quiet waters of politics, where politicians were not bothered by anyone, despite their previous “career”. However, all of those who today appear with criminal convictions for drug traffic or mere theft, cannot be blamed why they were in that post that they were proposed. At the end of the day, they have seen their post of MP as an investment, because if you have money, you can become anything. You can become mayor, MP, general or regional director. Even voters cannot be blamed why they have elected them as their representatives. However, a while ago, one of the ambassadors reminded Albanians that these MPs or officials who have had ties with the world of crime and that this makes them guilty. Nonetheless, this doesn’t make much sense. Perhaps this is how it should have been, because in a normal country, citizens would not vote for people with a criminal past. In our case, voters do not elect their representative directly. Even the lists are not subject to any consultations or internal voting within the party. In all cases, lists are a product of a very close group within political parties or even the exclusivity of a single person.

With all of these figures who have been stripped of the mandate of the MP, mayor or the senior official, we’re in front of a clear fact. All political forces, big and small are criminalized. And this phenomenon is not only limited with the previous parliamentary mandate, where at least 20 MPs were mentioned of having shady pasts. And to think that they have voted laws which have had a significant impact on the life of the citizens. But, who assumes responsibility for this? We still don’t have a public apology by political leaders for their MPs, who have been affected by the decriminalization law. Meanwhile, they are responsible for their inclusion. It’s irresponsible and immoral that every time senior public officials are caught by the justice system, the leaders, who up until yesterday promoted them, say that these people have individual responsibility. It seems that the law on decriminalization has not included a special article stating that those who are responsible for the appointment of candidates should also be held accountable if these candidates are subject to this law.

Thursday, December 28, 2017

The two appellants had posed as refugees from the conflict in Kosovo in the late 1990s but the Judges ruled they and their family members could not be stripped of their citizenship.

The UK Supreme Court on December 21 ruled in favor of two Albanian migrants in a ruling that could have far-reaching implications for the immigration status of up to 80,000 people from the south-east European country and their family-members.

Dinjan Hysaj, 40 and Agron Bakijasi, 44, obtained their permits to remain in the United Kingdom while falsely claiming to have been born in and fled from the territory of Kosovo. When their true nationalities were discovered, both were ordered to be deported by the Home Office but the case was referred to the Supreme Court.

The final judgement had determined that lying in order to obtain citizenship was not sufficient grounds to revoke it once it had been extended, particularly when it came to the granting of citizenship to spouses and children.

The Judges concluded that the Crown had failed to adequately explain how some forms of identity fraud were worse than others, meriting the retrospective revoking of citizenship. They noted that the two appellants did not assume the identity of other people, but falsified their dates and places of birth while keeping their real names.

"It is not clear when the use of a false identity to obtain citizenship by one person will lead to the nullification of the grant of citizenship to those making a derivative claim, whether as a spouse or child," the Judgement read.

Aqif Rakipi from Party for Justice, Integration and Unity, and Gledjon Rahovica from Socialist Movement for Integration, have been under investigation since February 2017, sources from the Prosecution Office said.

The office found that the two lawmakers were convicted for robbery in Italy, after it received their fingerprints from Interpol in Roma.

In February this year, the mandate of another lawmaker, Armando Prenga, was revoked for the same reason.

He also pointed out that the Russian and Turkish Finance Ministries had already completed talks on Moscow's loans for Ankara.
"They should finalize financial papers now. I can say, they [Turkey] will pay 45 percent of the whole some in advance, 55 percent [of the sum] is being funded by Russian loans. We are going to start deliveries in March 2020," Chemezov added.

Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the documents Russian S-400 had been signed and that Ankara wanted to take steps to implement the agreement as soon as possible.

The President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos thanked the Albanian government for granting Albanian nationality to Archbishop of Tirana, Durres and all Albania Anastasios, the head of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania.

Pavlopoulos made the thank you call on Tuesday to his Albanian counterpart Ilir Meta and noted that the Albanian President’s initiative “is one more significant step in the direction of the further substantial improvement of relations between Greece and Albania.”

The initiative to grant Archbishop Anastasios citizenship comes after Greece’s Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias made the request in a recent meeting with his Albanian counterpart Ditmir Bushati in Crete in early November.

Kotzias hailed the decision in a tweet on Christmas Eve, welcoming it as a “recognition of [Anastasios’] deeply humanitarian work and a strengthening of trust between our peoples.”

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has not spent Christmas in Greece opting instead to spend it in the Serbian capital with his family.

Tsipras accepted an invitation by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s to host him and his family for the Christmas holidays.

Meanwhile, from neighbouring Turkey, the head of the world’s orthodox Christian community, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, wished 2018 to be a year of peace for Palestine, Syria and the Middle East while welcoming pupils of the Greek Diaspora schools at Phanar on Monday who sang him Christmas Carols.

The Ecumenical Patriarch referred to the refugees and the Palestinian people’s tragedy and expressed again his support on the preservation of the current status quo in Jerusalem, which as he said, “will be reversed with the recent decisions”.

The court has been set up to deal with the crimes committed by members of the ethnic Albanian KLA ("Kosovo Liberation Army") in KOsovo and Metohija.

Mere days after Kosovo's president and prime minister, Hashim Thaci and Ramush Haradinaj, tried to revoke a law in parliament that allowed the formation of the court, Pristina media are reporting that more indictments have been prepared against more than 60 former members of the KLA.

The first indictments are expected to be raised in mid-February, Insajderi writes, adding that both Thaci and Kadri Veseli, who now serves as president of the Kosovo Assembly, are under investigation of the court's prosecution.

Thaci is being investigated as a former political leader of the KLA and the head of a transitional government set up by KLA commanders after the arrival of international forces in Kosovo in the summer of 1999. Veseli is investigated for his responsibility as a former head of KLA's intelligence service SHIK.

The list of persons who could be indicted appeared after Friday's drama in the Kosovo Assembly, when 43 deputies, backed by Thaci, Haradinaj, and Veseli, tried to annul the law allowing the formation of the courts - a move that was met with strong condemnation by the US, Britain, and the EU.

Insajderi writes that Azem Syla, one of the founders of the KLA - known in Kosovo also as "Big Boss" and "Big Uncle" - will be indicted based on an investigation into a series of murders of political opponents, that was until recently conducted by EULEX under the name "Blaca 2."

Sokol Dobruna will be brought before the Specialist Chambers as an executor of a KLA court that was active during and immediately after the war, the website said.

Daut Haradinaj will be accused for his role in the case concerning Lake Radonjic, where the bodies of about 40 Serbs, Albanians and Roma were dumped after they were murdered. A source cited by the website said the court "based its indictment on the fact that 39 bodies have been found in the lake."

The report further states that the court's prosecution is investigating about 500 murders of Serbs and Albanians that happened after 2000, including numerous unsolved killings of political rivals of the parties that came out of the KLA.

The special court was formed in 2015 under the auspices of the EU in order to prosecute former KLA members for the crimes committed during and after the war in Kosovo. Investigations into these crimes stem from a report submitted by then special Council of Europe (CoE) rapporteur Dick Marty.

During the trials of Ramush Haradinaj and Fatmir Limaj before the now closed Hague Tribinal (ICTY), the inability of the tribunal to protect prosecution witnesses emerged as the main problem. This was mentioned several times at the UN Security Council by ICTY's chief prosecutors Carla del Ponte and Serge Brammertz.

Since the time of the Trojan war, there’s an expression that Albanians have been often using during the century old state: “Beware of the Greek’s gift”. This notion has been rooted so much in the mind that 25 years needed to go by in order for Albania to grant Albanian citizenship to Yannulatos, although during all this time he has been Archbishop of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church and has gone by the name Anastasio. So, 25 years, or two and a half Trojan wars, lasting 10 years each.

In the state protocol, in different activities and ceremonial receptions, the lack of Albanian passport could not, nonetheless, prevent the head of one of the most important religious communities in the country to be part of them. Therefore, Archbishop Anastasios has always been present and a contributor. However, during all these years, he has not been an Albanian citizens, although throughout this period, there have been many foreign nationals who have obtained Albanian citizenship. These foreigners have included people such as the Italian football coach, De Biasi or researchers of Albanian folklore. There have been many like them from Islamic countries and our state authorities have been tolerant toward everyone who has wanted to register a religious foundation, who distributed aids for remote and poor areas. But, after the 11 September attacks in the US, suspicions were raised for some of them. So big was this tolerance that even if Bin Laden had requested Albanian citizenship, he would have been granted it through a fast tracked procedure.

Meanwhile, the Archbishop, who did not have a passport and who was so much criticized by the media, continued his work to build the Autocephalous Orthodox Church. Today, we can say that this institution has an added value in an Albania which still has many problems, legacy of the ruins that the communist system left behind. Building the church seemed mission impossible because of the skepticism that existed about the fact that a Greek patriarch was appointed as head of this church. However, His Beatitude knew how to set an example and through his daily dedication, he managed to provide the Orthodox Church with contemporary standards. His personality and the fame that he had, made him welcome everywhere abroad, enabling him to secure funds for the Orthodox Church. The church became an institution based on rules and canons. All monumental, historical or new churches were made functional. However, this is only one aspect, because in the context of Albanian society, where there are three main communities and others arriving, it has managed to offer a great contribution for religious harmony. And in an environment such as Albania, which has come out of a communism atheism, without stable religious institutions and where there have been many foreign influences in an attempt to destroy this religious harmony, this contribution receives added value for every Albanian.

The time when the patriarch of the church did not have the citizenship of the communion that he leads, has come to an end and along with it, the numerous insulting comments addressed against the second biggest religious community in the country. All these years, his grace pardoned and prayed for this stupidity. The community also ignored it and did not fall victim of any provocations, while the figure of the Archbishop rose in the eyes of everyone. We must all accept this value, as he is a contributor in strengthening the structure of this state, where religion has its part. And this value doesn’t stem from the fact that he has now the Albanian citizenship.

Inaugurated in 2015 by the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Albanian counterpart Bujar Nishani the construction project of the Grand Mosque ‘Namazgja’ in Tirana is continuing faster than it was imagined.

Journalist Vincent Triest uploaded on Twitter the photo of the mosque as it is today.

“When completed, it will be the largest mosque in the Balkans. It is a gift from President Erdogan”, the journalist says.

This is the Great Mosque of Tirana. It is located in the city centre and just in front of the Parliament. When completed, it will be the largest mosque in the Balkans. It is a gift from President @RT_Erdogan. Interior will take about one year. #Albania

The mosque that costs around 30 million euros is being financed by Turkey’s Presidency of Religious Affairs ‘Diyanet’ will have enough room for 5,000 people to pray at a time on an area of 20,000 square metres.

Up until now, believers have been praying outside the doors of the mosques, due to their small spaces. Meanwhile, during religious holidays, believers pray in the main square of Tirana.

The mosque will be part of an Islamic complex in the heart of Tirana, which is set to house conference and exhibition halls, libraries and museums. The site is located near landmark Catholic and Orthodox cathedrals.

“This mosque will be built with the contribution and assistance of the Turkish people. The proximity of this mosque with the church and the presence of the museum of cohabitation, which will be built besides this mosque, shows the diversity and harmony that exists in Albania”, Erdogan said while inaugurating.

U.S. President Donald Trump's decision on Jerusalem has caused worldwide condemnation and rejection. Muslim and non-Muslim activists, government institutions and religious organizations have reacted against the latest American provocation against the Muslims and Christians of the Holy Land. The latest U.N. vote against this move shows the international comminuty's disappointment regarding the issue of Jerusalem and the American-Israeli discrimination of the Palestinians.

Jerusalem, or al-Quds in Arabic, is one of the most sacred cities for Muslims. Balkan Muslims hold Jerusalem in high esteem, too. For them, Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa compound are considered holy places. Albanians were supportive of Palestine even during the era of communism. Josip Broz Tito's Yugoslavia and Enver Hoxha's Albania supported the Palestinian issue and the right of the Palestinian people to have their own state.

However, after the fall of communism, support for Palestine faded in the Balkans. The American domination in Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia discourages the governments and civil society organizations in the Balkans from supporting issues that the American government does not like. Most of the civil society organizations in the Balkans are supported either by the U.S. or the EU and, as a result, the reactions that one sees in the West against wars, injustice and aggression are absent in this part of Europe.

Trump's provocation on Jerusalem was met with almost total silence by Muslim Albanian communities in the Balkans. The governments of Kosovo and Albania did the same. If someone visits the official pages of the Muslim Community of Albania, the Islamic Community of Kosovo or the Islamic Religious Community of Macedonia (IRCM), they will have the impression that Jerusalem is not an important issue for Muslim Albanian.

In the pages of the official Islam of Albanians of Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia, someone will read that these state-supported religious institutions are concerned about their Muslims who fight in Syria, organize meetings with foreign delegations and attend religious or inter-religious celebrations. They are all politically correct, conveying the message of peace and tolerance and time after time, organize conferences and meetings with U.S., EU and sometimes even Israeli delegations who teach them how to de-radicalize and behave well.

Unlike the rest of the Muslim world, which has frozen relations with Israel, in post-communist Albania, the Israeli Embassy regularly meets with the leaders of the Sunni Muslim and Bektashi communities and sends them to Israel for cultural and photographic events. The myth of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies (BESA Center), created by the Israeli state over the past decades, claims that Albanians are good Muslims. They saved all of the Jews during World War II, and as a result, are shown as good Muslims in contrast to the Arabs who do not like them. The Israelis like Albanian dervishes and imams with their turbans and beards paraded around Israel as an example of good Muslims.

Trump's declaration on Jerusalem, which even Pope Francis rejected, did not get the expected reactions from Kosovo or Albania. While the government of Kosovo was totally silent and careful not to worry its American sustainers and Israel, which do not even officially recognize Kosovo as a state, the government of Albania was forced to participate in the Istanbul Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which declared east Jerusalem the capital of Palestine, participating in the event with a low-level ambassador. Ditmir Bushati, Albania's foreign minister who was grilled in parliament by newborn Catholic politician Tritan Shehu about Albania's presence at the "anti-American event," downplayed the participation in the summit. He said they did not vote for it and even questioned Albania's membership in the OIC.

One day after the OIC's joint declaration, Albanian President Ilir Meta, Israeli ambassador in Tirana Boaz Rodkin and many other Albanian officials celebrated Hanukkah in the premises of the secular Albanian presidency in the presence of Albania's top Sunni and Bektashi clerics. A picture on Meta's website shows that Albanian Muslim leaders and politicians alike have no problem with Israel, which invades, deports and kills their Muslim brethren in Jerusalem and throughout Palestine. They do not share even the pope's call for wisdom and prudence.

When on Dec. 21, Albania, like 128 other U.N. member states voted against the U.S. Jerusalem move in the U.N. General Assembly, there was a fury of condemnation against the Albanian government's vote in Albania and Pristina. Kosovo's President Hashim Thaçi declared that he would be with the Americans to the end. In Albania, President Ilir Meta wrote an open letter to President Trump apologizing for this vote, claiming that the government did not consult him first. Sali Berisha and most Albanian politicians and media outlets described Albania's vote "against the Americans" at the U.N. as an anti-national move and almost no one dared to speak on behalf of the Palestinians.

While some Balkan experts probably understand the extreme pro-Israeli and pro-American bias of many Albanian politicians who fear for their future and have to sustain public attacks by American ambassadors in Pristina and Tirana who accuse them of being corrupt, the question that one might raise is why Muslim Albanians and their civil society organizations have not spoken out against Trump's Jerusalem declaration. Are they not concerned about the safety of their holy mosque and the human and civil rights of Palestinians?

The Israeli myth of BESA claims that Albanians saved Jews during World War II. If this myth is true, one might ask if Albanians are not worried about the Palestinians today as they were about Jews in the past. One might even ask how is it possible that the Muslim Council of Great Britain and many other Muslim organizations in the West have condemned Trump for his Jerusalem provocation, but the "autochthonous" Muslims in the Balkans have not. Some imams and believers whom I have asked this question have responded privately, saying they are afraid. Can you not see the mass state surveillance and hysteria against mosques and believers that the Americans have built in Kosovo and Albania with the excuse of the fight against terrorism? Do you not see how many imams and believers have been jailed on fake charges and how the media accuses us of being extremists and terrorists? If we speak or protest for Jerusalem, the Americans and our government will persecute us. This is their response.

Turkey will seek a diplomatic solution, go to the International Court or go to war to take back some Aegean islands, said Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, while addressing the Turkish parliament.

Ant1 television correspondent to Turkey, Maria Zacharaki, said that there was a confrontation in Turkish parliament between the ruling party (AKP), and the main opposition regarding the issue of certain Greek islands in the Aegean, that Ankara claims belong to Turkey.

During his speech, Cavusoglu said that Turkey has three options: Try to work out a diplomatic solution with Greece, take the issue to the International Court, or send the Turkish army to claim said islands.

Referring to Imia, Cavusoglu said it is a national issue and that AKP is not responsible for what happened in 1996, because they were not the government then. The Turkish minister claimed that Imia was “occupied” by the Greeks, according to the report.

“We continue our diplomatic talks with Greece. If we do not agree, the parliament will decide on the alternatives and we will apply them. But this is a national policy. This is not an issue that will be discussed in the corridors. We established a team of military personnel at the Ministry of National Defense. We discussed the problem and the steps we can take. Is it more beneficial to reduce tension or increase it?” Cavusoglu said.

Friday, December 22, 2017

The voting of the UN of a resolution which condemns the decision of president Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, has seriously stirred world diplomacy. Politicians and analysts are divided over this issue and the consequences that Washington’s move could have in the upcoming developments in the Middle East and beyond. But, besides analysis and different viewpoints on the recognition of Israel as the capital, which is a pledge made by three previous US presidents, the issue now relates to the official stances that states will held, because the battle is now taking place in the UN’s seat, where the anti-Trump resolution on the status of Jerusalem was discussed. This is no longer a matter of declarations and stances now. The states decided whether they were in favor of the USA’s decision or in convergence with it.

The US ambassador in the UN was very clear in her declaration about the voting. “The USA will take note of all those countries which will back a resolution which is against the interests of the US”. Her stance was clear and it acts as a warning even for countries which, although they have strategic relations with the US, they flirt with other countries .

What interests us in this clash taking place in the UN is what it’s going to be for Albania after this battlefield, because the vote that was given not only showed Albania’s stance on this issue, but it will also rank it alongside forces which are measuring with each other.

According to the statement made by the ministry of Foreign Affairs, Albania’s stance will be in line with the stance of the European Union. In principle, this will be in line with the declarations made by the EU most senior officials, who have expressed their skepticism, because there are no two Jerusalems, but only one and that its status as capital would hinder the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians. However, despite the Union’s stance, it’s clear that in the UN, Europe didn’t vote like a single unit, but each country voted in an independent manner. And this vote has prompted debates in the respective countries.

Meanwhile, on the other hand, in the Islamic Organization, things are clear. The decision of president Trump for the recognition of Jerusalem as capital has been condemned. The most involved personality in the stance of the Islamic world is Turkish president Erdogan, who, for more than a year now has been critical against the USA, shaking the strategic relations that these two countries have had for decades. Albania has participated in the last conference of the Islamic Organization as a member country of this forum, where it came out with a truly aggressive statement against the decision of the US. In this statement, there are no footnotes specifying Albania’s individual stance regarding the decision taken by the Islamic countries. Now, between the US, EU and Islamic countries, Albania says that it is in line with the EU’s moderate stance. Nevertheless, Albania is against the decision of the US.

But, how will this vote impact Albania and its foreign policy? Its vote against will not have a good impact on the future relations between USA and Albania, but, on the other hand, it will be praised by Erdogan and the Islamic countries. As far as the EU is concerned, the decision does not have any impact on world politics, but only on regional ones, where Albania must only serve uphold stability. What’s more, our country is not an EU member country obliged to rank itself alongside the Union’s actions. It looks like this vote will only cause damages. Let us recall that Kosovo has asked the USA to be part of the process of talks with Serbia, while Serbia has demanded Russia. But, if the support of the US is requested while the country flirts with Erdogan for the vote in the UN, this does nothing else but damages us as a country which acts based on pragmatism and doesn’t know how to tie its political fate with countries which have invested for the stability of this country.

The Panepirotic Federation of America vehemently condemns the brutal destruction by Albanian authorities on August 26 of a Greek Orthodox Church in the Chimara region of the former Communist nation that once prohibited all forms of religious worship. The Church of St. Athanasius in the town of Drymades, known in Albanian as Dhermi, was completely destroyed by government agents acting on the authority of Albania’s Interior Ministry.

Petitioning European Council

The land in Himara belongs to the people of Himara! Land and property registration NOW! Signe now this petition to the European Councile, for the registration of properties to the only and single eligible owner: the PEOPLE of Himara.

Himara Community of USA, Addresses Himarra Property Issues with US State Department / Ambassador

The Honorable John F. Kerry Secretary of State U.S. Department of State Dear Mr. Secretary: We are writing to inform you of issues affecting United States citizens who have vested interests in the municipality of Himarra, Albania, and to express our concern about their long outstanding and unresolved problems regarding property rights. Over 1500 US citizens of Himarrioton descent are disenfranchised of their rights to the ownership of their family properties which were confiscated in 1945 by the communist regime. They have been attempting to claim their family properties since the end of the communist period without success due to the laws and policies of the Albanian government which a) fail to address ownership rights of pre-1945 landowners, b) fail to address the rights of owners who were forced to emigrate to the United States for economic or political reasons, and c) fail to address the rights of those with dual citizenship who have attempted to claim their properties as Albanian citizens.

Opinion - Kisha Autoqefale dhe Greqia! (14 tetor 2013)

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Officially: Omonoia, In Albania over 300.000 Greeks declared

30 % or 86,000, are declared electronically and this process includes 85 % of the members of the Greek minority Vlora Prefecture is the mostly populated by Greeks, there are about 90. 000 Greeks. TIRANA - Democratic Union of the Greek Ethnic Minority, Omonoia publishes the results of the census of members of the Ethnic Greek Community, organized by it structures. The Prime Census, was the decision of the General Council of the organization as members argued for exclusion of the Greek minority in the months Census October 2011, organized by the Institute of Statistics .

The history of elections of the Albanian dictator, to terrorize the people of Himara

A special Edition by SManalysis December 2, 1945: The Himariotes, abstaining from communist referendum, as happens usually for Himara the Albanian historians, never wrote this tragic history. Nikos Koutoulas, who boldly told the special communist court: "I'm Greek . I do not know Albanian, get me a interpret!" Still now, Albania never hold free politic elections, including Himara Municipality

Albanian Writer Raises Storm in Kosovo

Kosovo officials have rounded on Albanian writer Fatos Lubonja for saying that the political elites in both countries turned a blind eye to the crimes of the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA. Besar Likmeta BIRN Tirana Albanian writer Fatos Lubonja In the article published in the May edition of the magazine Sudosteuropa, Lubonja focused on the reaction of Albania’s political class to the acquittal of the former KLA commander and Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj by the Hague Tribunal. Lubonja wrote that following Haradinaj’s release, the elite in Pristina and Tirana celebrated him as a hero, despite having enough information that the charges brought by prosecutors in the Hague were correct.

As long as human rights and civil liberties are violated in Himara Region primarily property, Greec

Himara Associations: Athens to block the status of Albania, if Tirana, does not solve the property issue Two associations based in Himara, "The Himara Community" and "Sea Coastal Association" have asked in a statement distributed to the media this afternoon that Greece "should block the candidate status for Albania" if Tirana, will not solve the problems of Human Rights and particularly the issue of the properties in Himara Region. The statement takes into consideration the visit Tirana following day of E.Venizelos the Greek Deputy Prime Minister also heads the Presidency of the European :

Albania minorities object to territorial division

Albania's civil society is calling on officials to diffuse tensions and protect minorities from discrimination and potential violence as a result of the decision to scrap the existing municipalities and create a new territorial administration. The government reduced the 384 local government units to 65, effectively creating entirely Albanian-majority municipalities. Greek, Macedonian and other minority representatives said the government's move violates their rights and international norms.

Poll: Albania, the most racist country in Europe

An international survey data from the World Value Survey collected and processed by the Washington Post reveals that Albania is the most racist country in Europe and worldwide more racists. The survey attempts to make a connection between economic development and being tolerant inside a society with ethnic crashes.. Thus, the most tolerant countries in the world are the Nordic countries, Great Britain and some of its former colonies, the United States, Canada and Australia. Countries with high tolerance are also in Latin America, where Venezuela exception.

Fatos Lobonja: Albania needs formatting not to rebirth

Fatos Lobonja, in an interview for the program "PULS" the KohaVision in Kosovo, there appeared criticism of developments in Albania. According Lubonja Albanians as a society still can not be consolidated. The reasons, according to him, are corrupt Albanian political elites on all sides, inside and abroad. He said they did not thirst for power leaves organize and move forward. Edi Rama's arrival at the head of government, according Lubonja, will not change the image of Albania, because Rama is associated with the oligarchs and organized crime. " He should answer that elite and non-citizens of Albania ", Lobonja estimates.

Nicholas Gage: Athens to give soon the Greek citizenship for thousand north epiriotes

World Council delegation of Epirus Abroad, meeting with the Ministry of Interior for the vote of northern epiriotes and the resolve the pension problem The visit of Nicholas Gage, is considering as the latest diplomatic effort of USA lobbing, for implementation of the "Protocol of Corfu" agreement, between Albania and Greece, based on the ulterior escalation in Balkan region. The Delegation of the World Council of Foreign Relation of Epirus (PSIE) headed by the Honorary President Nicolas Gkatzogianni, had a working meeting with the Greek Interior minister Stylianidis and v/ minister Syrigos.

Himariotes, lobbying in USA, for Autonomy

A group of people of Himara, with American citizenship, are lobbying to the US Congress and the State Department, that the Himara Region, receive the right for autonomy, according to international historical right to his self-determination. Proposed to merge all associations operating in USA, Greece and Albania, to be united in a single purpose: Autonomous Himara, Movements in the Balkans geopolitical, Mitrovica case, cutting pension from Greece, scarce public investment, robbery and illegal registration of property, etc., have raised a great concern, as never in the recent relationship of Himara, Albanian and Greek state relationship.

Pyrros Dimas, meeting with the Greek Minister of Labour, for problem of pensions to the Northern Ep

- Initiative of MP of PASOK, Pyrros Dimas for preparing and drafting a legislative proposal in collaboration with representatives of the Northern Epirus organizations. - The Minister agreed on the need to find a solution and urged the Member to develop concrete proposals, and that after consultation with the Secretary of the New Republic, Manolis Kefaloyiannis will be submitted jointly to the Minister of Finance.

"Kakome Case" again to the Albanian Tribunals

The Greek Community continues to "constant war" with the Albanian government to protect property. The apathy of Athens, to respond to the robbery of the properties in just the time, that OSCE, under the process of the registration of property in Ionian Coast, from European taxpayers, without any trasparence, is favoring according to Albanian law, alienation of property, of the Greek community , with the false documents.

Berisha: albanophobia threatens inter region

Berisha: "We must accept that they are the only people who live in 5 states. A nation that is unjustly divided into 5 states, a nation that wants to look to a common future. But again albanophobia is still in action " Albanian Prime Minister for the second time, threatening Greece, claiming that Albanians in Greece, should join the Albanian state.

NORTHERN EPIRUS THROUGH THE CENTURIES(LECTURE OF VASILIOS KYRANIS, Harvard University -1981) AL

Christos Pappas, in an interview with Arthur Zhei, News 24 TV

Pappas: "Northern Epirus is a region that holds arbitrary from Albania, as recognized by the great powers, the Protocol of Corfu. The Law of War against Albania, can not remove from Papoulias nor Greek parliament, but the Greek army is ready to liberate the Northern Epirus, again

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After a life threatening message to Archbishop Janullatos

42 Orthodox clergy against census and Red & Black Alliance: Janullatos has not afraid of death 42 Tirana archdiocese Orthodox clergy have reacted with a joint statement in defense of Anastasios Yannoulatos. Their attitude comes after strong reactions against the Red & Black Alliance, for Archbishop and after a census that sees Orthodox in third place in terms of religion in the country.

Albania: 100 years, Berisha plays 'great Albania' trump card

In Tirana Albanian leaders, tensions with Macedonia 28 November, 10:49 (ANSAmed) - TIRANA, NOVEMBER 28 - Albania's black and red national flag with a double-headed eagle is waving across the country which is celebrating today its 100th anniversary of independence in a tense political climate. The centre-right Premier Sali Berisha has been calling for days for an ethnic-national unification of all Albanians living in different Balkan states, in efforts to revive a strong nationalism which is rejected by Albania's opposition.

The Official Site of The Himara Community

CONTINUES THE DEBATE IN WASHINGTON D.C. FOR THE PROPERTY RIGHTS OF AMERICAN CITIZENS FROM NORTHERN

According to the Greek organisation of Albania estimates there are thousands of Greek American citizens from Northern Epirus (Southern Albania) which is refering the Journalist Lambros Papantoniou, asking the Spokesman of State Department for the rights of American citizens with Greek origin to take their properties in Southern Albania. Papantoniou is refereeing a Memo between Albanian State and USA about the civil rights especially for the properties of American citizens who are interested to take them according to Albanian Constitution and laws the properties of family generation. This is the second debate of the veteran Journalist for Balkan Issues in State Department Lambros Papantoiou who accuses over all the Sali Berisha Regim in Albania supported by the President Bush.

A Response to AFP

SManalysis Orthodox churches of Albania, are Byzantine churches, belong to the property of the population of Epirus.....

Avramopoulos`s speach during NATO meeting

Greece threatens Albania blocking the integration process after Berisha's statements Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos, has expressed his concern at the NATO ministerial meeting about rising tide of nationalism in Albania and premature declarations of the government. In a press release the Greek Foreign Ministry said that "the growth of nationalism and populism in some of our neighboring countries is a source of great concern."

The U.S. talk of "change of borders in the Balkans"

Message-warning sent to Albania by the U.S. representative to the State Department, which in a statement said that any change of borders in the Balkans "would be counterproductive and destabilizing," but the issue is that for the first time put the U.S. even and negative mood on any change of borders in the Balkans ...

INUK në Vlorë, pronarët: Me dokumenta të rregullta dhe leje ndërtimi

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GREEK NEWS FROM NIKO`S BLOG

PREMIUM, THE GREEK TRASFORMATION

The "Kissinger Plan": Confederations Macedonia, Epirus, Thrache,

THE BIG CHANGE IN PERIVOLO, DRYMADES, HIMARA REGION

Dhermi, (Drymades, Himara Region) between natural beauty and destruction Look at those videos, before in 2010, everything natural and in 2012 the differences, the big changes how are divided Mafia plots, see whose investments are shown, with the camera of a sportsman parachute, in Long Beach "Perivolo" in Dhrymades, the Himara Region. Look at how this summer 2012, the Concessions of Mafia provided by The Himara Counsil Municipality and the Government of Albania, have become a reality. The Sand Beach Drymades, is transformed in the sidewalks and kiosks. See how they are transformed Dhermi, in a few years, in an administrative center, disrupting also balance the religious and ethnic composition of himariotes.

Robert Elsie: If I would live in Albania, it would be crazy. It is the same as in Ottoman times

After known albanolog Milan Shufla, Robert Elsie is the best conteproranean albanian albanolog in the World During his intereweu on "Top Channely TV, Robert Elsie, on his first interview on TV. expresed his story about Albanian and Albanian state in 100 years. An interesting tale scholar known for his work difficulties in view of the Albanian language. Elsie, who knows Albanians for years, amounts to a chilling conclusion. He says he will not ever live in Albania, as it will go mad. "I can not live here. It's a little wild for me, the relationships between people are a bit wild. I know that is just a facade that inside have good spirit, but have a rabies in human relations. You know how to protect yourself here, and here I am like a rabbit, he can not defend myself. I come here with pleasure, but do not believe they can afford to come and live here forever. There is much frustration of everyday life. Life is too short and I do not have time to bump into obstacles, only to achieve something, when in another country and get away and then live my life, "said Elsie to Albanian. And while Enver Hoxha's Albania as compared with that of Sali Berisha, adds: "There is something that depends only on the party, it's more the attitude of the people. So to get something going, you have to know someone in the Ministry, to drink coffee with, then drink coffee again next week with even a third time, and then he connects with the person that you are interested . That is the same as in Ottoman times, not like a normal country. ".

Separatists gaining ground in Europe

Greece, is going to Plan B: grant for 600 thousand Greek citizenship, at the Consulates

Failure of the Census in Albania, apparently, has forced Athens, put in place, going to Plan B to its foreign policy, grant citizenship to all Hellenic Community of Northern Epirus (Greek passports) through three Greek consulates in Albania. According to “The Albanian newspaper Gazeta Shqiptare”, in a statement issued by the Greek Consul in Argjirokaster, Nikolaos Kotroxois, will begin soon, giving the Greek passports to Albanian citizens of Greek descent, who have applied for years. The decision is taken, after Athens, has used all diplomatic sources to have to Tirana, the same wavelength, particularly in geopolitical matters, particularly Kosovo. In his statement, the Greek Foreign Minister Stavros Dimas, noted, that Tirana, continues to show towards Greece, feeling not sincere cooperation, while simultaneously calling for the right to self-determination of the Greek community in Albania.

BERISHA: GREATER ALBANIA, WE LOST TERRITORIES

he Albanian Prime Minister held a meeting with Prishtina University students, in which he argued why he is against the unification of Albania with Kosovo and why both countries would lose, if borders would be changed. “The vital interest of the Albanians is to preserve the current borders, and the Albanians should not accept, at any cost, to lose a single square meter of the land they are entitled to. Another redraw of the borders would mark undeserved losses of the Albanian territories. We must be patient, free, and should not undertake any action that threatens territorial losses. Every generation has to make its duty, and this generation made it”, Berisha declared.

Dimas:"The Greek ethnic Community in Albania has the right of free of charge self-determination"

The reliability of the results of population census in Albania, in terms of minority groups, directly challenging the foreign minister Stavros Dimas, diaminyontas same time that the Respect for human and minority rights is … crucial criterion for the progress of the accession method of our neighbor. In a letter sent to the Home in response to a question from a Member of LA.OS K. Aivaliotis, Dimas says that “the foreign ministry has closely followed all the developments surrounding the census in Albania, even though produced timely plays, both bilateral and European level to make sure the integrity process and unimpeded registration of members of the Greek National Minority, and each location of residence of such ». As outlined, the “Selection of the representatives of the main minority groups, including the Greek National Minority, invite their members to abstain in protest not guaranteed to respect the right of free of charge self-determination, showed a significant deficit of trust minority in the Albanian state, which ought to itself the Albanian government to address priority ».

The Constitutional Court Decision on December 1, the Latter abolished the term Ethnic certificate of Its Citizens. In the Decision, panels argues why the notion of "nationality" is incompatible with the constitution When Its state charter law does not provid a clear definition of Its meaning. In Assessing the Court, "nationality" as defined concept without, unlike Other components of civil law does not Create a link that 'translates the Mutual rights and duties of Natural Persons and state.

While the total population in Himara Municipality, does not exceed 12 thousand inhabitants, a source from the prosecution of Vlora, shows that the problems of ownership at the squirrels region have reached the 7500 court proceedings and special investigations, which marks a world record, by how a country like Albania, could not manage the right of ownership, in one of the areas attacked by the Albanian mafia and international. However, the U.S. Department Report for 2004 on human rights in Albania, states clearly that in the Himara Municipality, the community lands and the Orthodox Church, was robbed by a Courts with false documents, supported by the Office of Propetry Registration in Albania.

Arben Puto: Albania has declared war against Greece first

In his book "The Italian Greek War", Arben Puto, well known historian of the era of dictatorship in Albania, writes that: "In a unanimous decision of the Albanian Parliament on July 15, 1940, was ratified, the Italian Fascist royal decree, which declared all war allies France and Britain, including the USA and Greece. So need to Albanians, to be aware that Greece was not declared war Albania, but Albania, with military battalions that attacked Greece on 28 October 1940 ".

WB returns to Ionian Riviera residence reconstruction

Another World Bank project is being executed with the help of the Albanian authorities for the reconstruction of the residences in Albania’s southern coastline. The 625.000 USD project aims to protect and promote the values of the Albanian national architecture in the Southern part of the country, in order to prevent destruction and abandonment of the traditional houses. “Shqip” newspapers says that the Ministry of Public Works is the WB partner in the “Roofs and Facades” project. The implementation of the program has started in the villages classified as participators: Dhermi i Vjeter, Qeparo i Vjeter, Ilias, Vuno, Himare e Vjeter, Piqeras, Nivice and Luksht. The World Bank will finance 70% of the restauration cost, with a maximum of 7000 USD, while the program “Accommodation and Breakfast” will finance 50 of the restoration cost, with a maximum of 5,000 USD. The program “Roofs and Facades” aims to restore 72 houses in 18 months. 20 of them will adopt with the conditions of modern life, in the framework of the program “Accommodation and Breakfast”.

In Albania, at 20 years post-dictatorship, 8 thousands murders, for the issue of property

The shocking data, are given by the Prosecutor General, to the Albanian press Shocking facts which, in the wake of Albania rank Civil War, the high level of killings, including the year 1997 Through the Albanian press, Attorney General, has published shocking facts about the increasing number of murders in Albania, especially for issues of ownership. Clic on photo ....

Himara 26 centuries, a history of glorious Independence

HIMARA, THE NEXT MONTE CARLO`S IN EPIRUS

First step to Greater Albania: Kosovo Opens First Highway Section

A 38 kilometre-tranche of the road, which will eventually cross the country from the Albanian to Serbian border, was opened on Saturday. The first section, which runs from Vermica on the Albanian border to close to the town of Suhareka, cost 330 million euro. Senior Kosovo and Albania government officials were present at the inauguration ceremony. In a speech, Kosovo’s President Atifete Jahjaga said that the "highway has the role of linking nations and countries". "It is our link with important European corridors. Our coordinated policy will make us a free and equal members of the European Union," she added. Named the "Ibrahim Rugova Highway", after Kosovo's most famous president, the road connects with Albania's first highway, which was also built by the Turkish-American consortium Bechtel-Enka.

George Goro: Registration of properties on the southern coast of Albania faces difficulties

The process of registration of property in southern coastal areas of Albania is getting quite difficult. Mayor George Himara Goro says it has so far only completed the registration of houses and land but not land. Problems with documentation and the implementation of the Land Law difficult, according to him, residents in this process.

The Monument of Independence of Albania, is in hassle

PDIU Cam Community Party, the Socialist Party's local leader in Vlora, and "Red & Black Alliance", are making a nationalistic competition, the Monument of Independence and the Albanian national flag. Few days ago, Prime Minister Sali Berisha, said the establishment of a new monument to the independence of Albania in Tirana, implying, dismiss the historical tradition of Albanian independence in Vlora.

Himarrioton Society of America

The Himarriotans of America, motivated by the love of Himarra, the land of their native origin, and dedicated to the noblest ideals of their forfathers, have established this organization which aspires to the cultivation and preservation of Himarriotic culture in America, to making a positive difference in the lives of its members, and to promoting the rights and interests of the Himarriotans in Himarra, through the realization of patriotic, charitable, philanthropic, educational and cultural endeavors.

Opinion in Kosovo: "Socialists in Albania, are filo Greek"

The Chairman of the Opposition in Albania, Edi Rama, accused by the press in Kosovo that "he is with filo Greek sentiments" If, Sali Berisha, Albania's current prime minister, is expected both in Macedonia and Kosovo, as president of the Albanian nation, this has not happened with the chairman of the opposition in Albania, Edi Rama. During a recent visit to Kosovo, Edi Rama is unpopular, the fact that the perception of public opinion in Kosovo, is that the south, is the area close to Greece, but especially Rama and the Socialist Party, was accused of holding a position filo Greek, against the interests of Greater Albania.